December is a month that is often full of holiday celebrations, including parties, dinners, and other events with family and friends. While the holidays are the best time of the year for some, they can be incredibly stressful for those struggling with infertility. Whether it’s weighing the impact a second glass of wine will have on your fertility, or responding to questions from prying relatives, the holidays can feel overwhelming for those who are trying to conceive.
To help, the fertility experts of IVF FLORIDA’s South Florida fertility center are here with some tips on how to handle everything from your diet to overly inquisitive relatives this holiday season.
- Maintain a Balanced Diet – But Don’t Be Overly Strict
You don’t have to completely forgo those holiday treats, but try to maintain a balanced diet as much as possible during the holidays. Choose lean cuts of meat, like turkey breast, and plenty of vegetables and healthy fats. Try to avoid high-gylcemic foods like bread and white potatoes. This is especially true if you struggle with PCOS, as these foods can cause issues in regards to your insulin levels. That doesn’t mean you need to avoid your holiday favorites altogether – just try keeping it to a slice of pie or a serving of your favorite mashed potatoes.
- Watch Your Portion Sizes
It can be difficult to eyeball portion sizes, especially when the food is being served buffet or family-style. An easy way to keep portions under control is to try to fill up at least half your plate with leafy greens and other veggies, with the rest of the space for lean protein and carbs. If you find you still might be tempted to overindulge, try having healthy snack before the big meal.
- Limit Alcohol Intake
During the holidays, you’re just as likely to be offered a cocktail as a cookie. While it can be difficult to abstain from alcohol during this time of year, it’s best to limit you alcohol intake if you’re trying to conceive. The negative impact of alcohol doesn’t just start once you’re pregnant – it can also negatively impact your ability to get pregnant. Try to limit yourself to a glass of wine with dinner, avoid mixed drinks, and make sure to drink plenty of water.
- Develop Some Healthy Habits
Why not get started on your new year’s resolutions a little early? The holidays are a great time to pick up a healthy habit – like exercise – or drop some unhealthy ones (like smoking). Use holiday time off from work to take up jogging, reset your sleep schedule, take up a self-care routine. Your body will thank you!
- Make A Plan
“So when are you two going to have little ones of your own?” Hearing this is often difficult and painful for those who have been trying to conceive without success, but there is a good chance that someone will bring it up between now and the New Year. To help, try enlisting a family member or friend who can help steer the conversation in another direction when it starts to veer into uncomfortable territory. If you don’t have anyone you’d be comfortable having running interference, it can help to have a set of responses ready and waiting so that you aren’t caught off guard and can redirect the conversation quickly if you need to.
- Practice Self-Care
One of the most important things you can do this holiday (and the rest of the year) is to be kind to yourself and practice self-care. It’s OK to feel however you’re feeling. If you’re feeling sad, angry, or hurt, remember that there is no need to put on a brave face for everyone else. Make sure to take some time to do the things that help recharge you, like meditating, taking a relaxing bath, or cuddling up on the couch with your partner.
If you’re not feeling up to the festivities this year, that’s ok too. You can have an adults-only holiday party or even go on a vacation with your partner to get away. Your loved ones will understand that taking care of your mental and emotional health is more important than showing up for Christmas dinner.
Want some more tips on handling the holidays when you’re trying to conceive? Contact the team at IVF FLORIDA’s South Florida fertility center at 954-247-6200.
By
IVF FLORIDA at 3 Dec 2019
The holidays can be stressful for anyone, but the stress and anxiety associated with the holidays can ramp up to almost unbearable levels for those who are undergoing fertility treatment. Add in the stress of traveling to see family during the holidays (especially mid-cycle), and many couples undergoing treatment may just want to throw in the towel. To help relieve just a little bit of the stress associated with traveling during a fertility treatment cycle, the fertility experts of IVF FLORIDA’s South Florida fertility centers are here to provide some key tips on how to travel with fertility medication during the holidays to make your trip as stress-free as possible.
- Plan Ahead
If you’re in the midst of an IVF cycle, you know the importance of planning and timing. Traveling during an IVF cycle is no different – having a plan of action is key! The first step is to speak with your care team to get anything you’ll need (from monitoring to additional meds) ready to go before you leave town. Some key things to speak with them about include:
- Monitoring: If you’re in the middle of your cycle, it’s important to schedule monitoring appointments a fertility clinic located in your destination. Practices that are part of a large network, like IVF FLORIDA, have partner practices all over the country with qualified fertility teams that can monitor you while you’re out of town.
- Medication: You may need to obtain prior authorization from your insurance company for things like blood draws and medication if necessary, including lining up extra medication for your trip if needed.
- Speak With Your Airline
If you’re flying to visit family or friends, make sure to call your airline before you go. Your airline can let you know about specific protocols surrounding syringes, needles, and medication that needs to be refrigerated. Remember that every airline is different, so some airlines may only allow certain packing materials to keep meds cold and may have specific rules for traveling with liquid medications. Reach out to them ahead of time so that you can make sure you’ll have all of the information you’ll need well ahead of your trip.
- Know How To Pack
Whatever you do, don’t put your fertility medications or anything you’d need to administer them in your checked baggage. Airlines regularly lose checked bags, sometimes taking weeks to get them back to you (if they are able to find them at all). This would leave you without your fertility meds for days, completely throwing off your cycle. Make sure to keep your fertility medications (and any other materials you may need, like gauze or alcohol wipes) in your carry-on bag so that they are always with you during your trip. Finally, make sure to carry the emergency contact information for your clinic and pharmacy on you – just in case.
- Keep In Contact With Your Clinical Team
Remember, your care team at IVF FLORIDA is here for you every step of the way! If there are any changes during your trip, contact us at 954-267-6200 to get connected to your team of fertility experts.
Traveling can be stressful, but with some careful planning and help from your team of fertility experts, it doesn’t have to be more stressful during an IVF cycle. If you have any questions regarding traveling with fertility medications or would like to schedule a consultation, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
By
IVF FLORIDA at 19 Nov 2019
Miscarriages are often physically and emotionally painful experiences for women and their partners. For couples who have been trying desperately to have a baby, the emotional high of a positive pregnancy test followed by the low of a miscarriage can be devastating. But while miscarriages are surprisingly common, multiple miscarriages can be a sign that it may be time to speak to a fertility specialist about why you are able to achieve a pregnancy, but not carry it to term. In honor of Pregnancy Loss Awareness month, the fertility experts of IVF FLORIDA go over the facts about recurrent pregnancy loss and the options available to patients experiencing it.
What is Recurrent Pregnancy Loss?
Few people talk about it, but miscarriages are more common than you would think – more than a quarter of all pregnancies will end in miscarriage. For many women who experience a miscarriage, they will not even realize they were pregnant. But one to two percent of women who experience a miscarriage will experience recurrent pregnancy loss – when a woman experiences two or more clinically confirmed pregnancies and subsequent miscarriage.
There are a variety of reasons some women experience recurrent pregnancy loss. For some, genetic abnormalities in the eggs or sperm cause a genetically abnormal embryo. In many of these cases, the woman will miscarry as the pregnancy is not viable. The genetic abnormalities may be due to abnormalities in either parent, or due to decreased egg quality due to advanced maternal age. Other causes include issues with the uterus or uterine cavity, including the presence of fibroids, polyps, or abnormal shape.
What Options Are Available to Women Who Suffer From Recurrent Pregnancy Loss?
While experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss can be devastating for couples, there is hope for those who want to build a family. For these couples, the first step would be to meet with a qualified fertility specialist. During the appointment, both partners would provide a full picture of their family history and undergo some tests to identify any possible issues. Some tests include:
- An Ultrasound
- A Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
- A Saline Infused Sonogram
- Genetic Testing
- Hysteroscopy
- Hormone Testing
These tests will help your IVF FLORIDA fertility doctor determine if your uterus is the correct shape, if there are fibroids or polyps interfering with a healthy pregnancy, or if there is a genetic or hormonal issue that is causing you to miscarry.
For women who have fibroids or polyps, and for some uterine defects, surgery can help correct the issue and enable you to carry a pregnancy to term. For those with hormonal issues, medication may be prescribed to get their hormones into an acceptable level.
For couples where the issue is likely a genetic one, patients can choose to undergo IVF with pre-implantation genetic testing to identify which embryos are genetically normal and implant only a normal embryo in order to produce a healthy pregnancy.
What If There Is No Way For Me To Carry A Pregnancy To Term?
For women who are unable to carry a pregnancy to term even after considering all other treatment options, if may be necessary to consider alternative family building options. Options such as surrogacy, sperm donation, or egg donation can help most couples build the families of their dreams.
To learn more about the options available to couples struggling with recurrent pregnancy loss who would like to build or grow their family, contact IVF FLORIDA’s team of specialists at 954-247-6200 to schedule a consultation with one of our fertility experts.
By
IVF FLORIDA at 25 Oct 2019
PCOS is an incredibly common disease that impacts the day to day lives of millions of women. But what is PCOS? And how does it impact a woman's ability to conceive? In honor of PCOS awareness month, we go over all of the facts you need to know about PCOS.
PCOS is a very common disease that can impact a woman's life in a variety of ways, but there are ways to manage the symptoms. For women who have PCOS and are struggling to conceive, our team of infertility experts at IVF FLORIDA are here for you. If you've been trying to conceive without success and would like to see a specialist, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our fertility specialists.
By
IVF FLORIDA at 19 Sep 2019
For many couples, deciding to start a family is a happy time full of love and planning for the future. But for couples with infertility, the joy and fun associated with starting a family can quickly turn into the stress and anxiety associated with fertility treatment. When this happens, it can be difficult to keep the spark alive with your significant other. Between juggling multiple doctors’ appointments and injection schedules, making time for one another can fall by the wayside.
But maintaining your connection with your partner while you struggle with infertility is incredibly important for the health of your relationship. To help you make sure you’re keeping the romance going strong in your relationship, the fertility experts of IVF FLORIDA are here to provide you with some tips that can help you reignite that spark.
- Set Up a Weekly Date-Night
You’ve been scheduling multiple doctor’s appointments, but now it’s time to schedule a romantic appointment with your partner! Pick a day of the week when you and your partner can carve out some time to go out on the town and spend some quality time together over a meal. You’ll be surprised at what a weekly date night can do for the romance in your relationship!
- Be Helpful
Is there something your partner has been meaning to get done but hasn’t found the time to do it? Help them out! Tiny acts of service like hanging a picture, doing the dishes, or taking the car for an oil change are small ways to show your partner you love them – sometimes the smallest gestures pay the greatest dividends.
- Go on a Spontaneous Getaway
Sometimes all you need to reignite that spark is a change of scenery! Whether it’s a day trip to the nearest beach or a weekend away at a resort, a spontaneous getaway can help nudge you and your partner out of a rut and into a fun and flirtatious mood that can do wonders!
- Pick Up a Hobby as a Couple
Trying something new together is a great way to get the romance going! Find something you’d both be interested in – like joining a kickball league or taking cooking classes – and start doing it together regularly. It will give you time to bond as couple and a bit of novelty could be just what you need.
- Schedule a Couples Massage
Infertility can be incredibly stressful, so taking time out to unwind and treat yourself is very important. A great way to do that with your spouse is by scheduling a couple’s massage. The two of you can get in some much needed relaxation and spend a couple of hours just decompressing together.
It can be difficult to find the time and energy to be a little romantic with your partner when you’re struggling with infertility. But as hard as it can be, it’s important to find pockets of time where the two of you can reconnect and focus on your relationship. If you and your partner have been trying to conceive without success and would like to seek help from a qualified fertility specialist, contact us today at 954-247-6200 to schedule your consultation.
By
IVF FLORIDA at 27 Aug 2019